Three political debates scheduled before early voting

Political candidates will appear at a pair of events in the coming weeks as the time nears for early voting and the general election.

The debates kicked off Tuesday night at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino with candidates scheduled to participate from the races for district attorney, county clerk, county assessor, District 5 judge, and Nye County Commission District 5.

Thursday, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. No. 10054 will host a debate for the candidates running for district attorney, sheriff and County Commission District 5 race at 6 p.m. The VFW will hold a food drive for veterans at the same function.

The Nye County Voter Education Caucus, a newly-formed group of interested citizens, are setting up a long-awaited debate between sheriff’s candidates Assistant Sheriff Rick Marshall and district attorney investigator Sharon Wehrly next Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m., at the Bob Ruud Community Center.

The moderator will be radio host Geraldine Ahrens. The candidates will get an advance look at a set group of questions, Ahrens will also take questions from the audience.

“We wanted to remove any appearance about bias so we’ll give the questions to both candidates,” caucus member Robert Hanson said.

Finally, the Artesia Homeowners Association Social Committee scheduled a “Meet the Candidates Night” on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Artesia Community Center, 6601 S. Fox Ave. Candidates will give a short prepared speech, after the speeches members of the audience will have a chance to ask questions. Committee member Linda Groover said 40 candidates have been invited including state and federal candidates.

The Artesia date will be the last candidate event before early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Ian Deutch Government Complex, 1520 E. Basin Ave. in Pahrump and at the Nye County clerk’s office in Tonopah. Early voting will be held in Pahrump from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 18, then Oct. 20 through Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 through Oct. 31.

Pahrump voters who normally used J.G. Johnson Elementary School will now be voting at the Ninth Grade Academy gym at 2000 S. Mount Charleston Drive, at the corner of Calvada Boulevard.

Other Pahrump voters who used the Bob Ruud Community Center at 150 N. Highway 160 will continue to use that location.

Election day voting will also be held at the Amargosa Community Center in Amargosa Valley, the Beatty Community Center in Beatty, the Donald L. Simpson Community Center in Round Mountain and the Tonopah Convention Center in Tonopah.